That's fine. Just please don't accuse me of saying I am spiritually superior (or thinking it). I merely asked a question to see what the response would be.
Honestly, it would never cross my mind that a passionate follower of Christ would watch Big Love. There was no superiority involved at all in my question or subsequent comments.
Often there is a hypercritical attitude towards those who voice some sort of objection to a closely held personal view. I don't think that is healthy, personally.
Your right Pastor Larry.
Peace isn't always indicative of one being on target biblically in one's life.
Totally agree.
But, I was talking about one who is abiding in Christ, is devoted to scriptural study, loves His wife as Christ loved the church.
The peace that comes from that life, yet that person watches an HBO program and the reply posts hint of, "Aren't we watching some bad stuff for Christians?".
To that, I explain that I am not focused on the areas of the show projecting images or actions that promote lust that leads to possible sinful actions or thoughts.
Yet that isn't enough.
The program is bad.
Frankly, the whole world is lost except for a few who are saved.
Let's just write-off exposure to any of it, and just enjoy fellowship within our own Christian enclaves.
I suppose, watching the Honeymooners with old Ralph Cramden was taboo, as in almost every episode, Ralph threatened to sock, wife alice and send her to the moon. :)
Rick and Lucy Ricardo slept in separate beds.
Now G rated shows show husband and wife in one bed.
Have we transgressed too far?
I don't dig the sex scenes in so many of these shows.
I am interested in the content in the area of what this type of Mormon lifestyle was about.
That's all.
You think it's bad, and Christians shouldn't watch it.
Preacher or not, that's your take.
The bible says to refrain and stay away from activities or things that can lead you into sin.
That's good.
We could really open up a can of worms about alcohol and the Christian.
How about anti-depressants and Christians?
Where do we draw the line?
If the Big Love series bothers some Christians, is it because they are more spiritual, or Christ-abiding than those that aren't bothered?
I think thats the bottom line here?
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Deejay: Was the only person that commented about their "take" on the content, and didn't turn it into a spiritual barometer of the topic author.
No, I said that I wasn't. You quoted my comment, and then asked me about that very comment. I don't follow that.
Do I need to watch the show that understand that it is about adultery and fornication? I haven't commented on teh show other than that. I thought common knowledge through newspaper reports would qualify me to say at least that much.
But aren't you begging the question here? Not to be too blunt, but can a person who is doing as you describe enjoy a show where those very things are mocked? Are you in danger of redefining one who is abiding in Christ.
Fellowship? Yes. But not isolation. 1 Cor 5 plainly says we are not to withdraw from sinners who are outside the church. But we also are not to participate in their sins.
Yes.
I draw the line at abstention from both.
There is certainly some merit to this. The bottom line is about spiritual sensitivity. Can we love Christ while being entertained by things Christ died to save us from?
His subsequent comments sure seemed pretty judgmental towards those who dared question.
Pastor Larry, would you have a problem eating some food offered to you by a Hindu Priest, that was part of a Hindu ceremony? (Taking into consideration that the food was prepared in a hygienic way.).
If I ate it, and you didn't, would this mean I'm some how not a devoted, Christ abiding Christian to the degree that a refraining Christian was?
If Paul walked into a room and some Christians were watching Big Love, would Paul lay into them?
Would he want them church disciplined?
I don't think watching Big Love falls into Pauls category of Romans 7, where he did what he didn't want to do and didn't do what he ought, Oh wretched man that I am...."?
It has a lot to do with the "eye" of the beholder.
You go into this show thinking, "taboo", I'm sinning, and your are sinning as your are violating your conscience.
That's scriptural.
You go into this show with curiosity to find out what this Polygamy thing is about, and are not seeking out chances to see lustful scenes, then is this sin.
Again, I go back to the ever-maturing Christian.
We can so turn the world away from ourselves via our perceived vices, and worrys of insecurity before our God.
So many things are neutral in the world, yet we Christians make them unneutral by our false guilts, and anxieties of disappointing God.
If it was some sort of equivalent of communion, then yes, you would not be a devoted Christ abiding Christian so far as I can see. If it was a wedding dinner as a part of a Hindu wedding ceremony, then eat up.
I think he would certainly question them.
I don't think there is anything neutral in this world.
Actually the show points out alot of the problems with adultrery/poligamy (samething to me) But there is also adultery and fornication in the Bible, how do you deal with that?
This is certainly a valid question. I think the answer is in the way that it is presented. The Bible presents it sparingly, without visual stimulation, in order to condemn it. TV shows in genera, and Big Love in particular apparently, does not.
BTW, TV is not known for its truthful presentation. Watching a TV drama to learn about someone or some group is not a good way to learn. Read a book about them. Interview people who are them.
Now don't be that way.
You should start your own polygamy house, and your first five wives should be Rosie O'Donnel, Rozanne Barr, Janet Reno, Phyllis Diller, and Hillary Clinton.